The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is causing financial hardships for those in the restaurant industry.
But a local brewery is heading to work in order to help their own.
North Country Brewing in Slippery Rock is in the process of creating a beer called “For The People” that will benefit those in the hospitality industry.
Bob McCafferty is the co-owner of North Country.
“The hospitality industry paid for two-thirds of my schooling, paid for all my cars, and paid for my rent. A lot of us are paycheck to paycheck in this industry,” McCafferty said. “Anytime we can do something that benefits the people who serve and chef for the communities we serve, that was the whole idea behind For The People.”
50 percent of the proceeds from For The People will go to hospitality workers in the area. Production Manager Meg Seastedt says helping those in the community is an extremely important part of North Country.
“This was one way that we could possibly help cheer people up or give people hope,” Seastedt said. “To me, I feel like North Country has always been about giving back to our community, and creating a family and culture around that. I feel like this is just one more way we can do that.”
Director of Marketing and Media Andy Hamilton echoed those same sentiments.
“The local community is really what made North Country what we are,” Hamilton said. “It’s not the people in Pittsburgh, it’s this tight-knit area in Butler County. To be able to give to those people who have continued to help us is awesome because you get to hear it personally. You see them in the pub and they say, ‘Wow! This is a really cool idea.’”
And what kind of beer will it be? Head Brewer Jon Barnes explains.
“It’ll be a cream ale, which is a nice, easy drinking beer,” Barnes said. “We wanted to make a beer that’s for when you clock out at the end of the day and just have a beer that’s easy drinking.”
It will have a low ABV (4.7%) as well Barnes said.
McCafferty said the cream ale idea was a byproduct of available ingredients, quick turnaround time, and fond memories of his college days.
“Indiana County was still hitting the cream ale pretty heavy until the mid 90s,” McCafferty, the IUP alum, said with a chuckle. “When I think of cream ales, I think of Genosee. Actually last fall I grabbed a 12 pack of Genosee from the Penn State area because I haven’t had it in 20 years.”
For The People is set to be released April 8th and can be purchased at locations where North Country products are normally sold. Restaurants and hospitality workers interested in learning more can contact North Country Brewing.
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